Editing Canton, Kansas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Short description|City in McPherson County, Kansas}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Canton, Kansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = CantonCarnegieLibrary.jpg
|image_caption            = [[Canton Township Carnegie Library]] (2013)
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = McPherson_County_Kansas_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Canton_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location within [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson County]] and [[Kansas]]
|image_map1               = Map of McPherson Co, Ks, USA.png
|map_caption1             = [[Kansas Department of Transportation|KDOT]] map of [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson County]] ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|legend]])

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|23|09|N|97|25|48|W|region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Kansas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Kansas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Kansas|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        =

<!-- Established -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1870s
|established_title1       = [[Platted]]
|established_date1        = 1879
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1880<ref name="gov1"/>
|named_for                = [[Canton, Ohio]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = <ref name="gov1"/><ref name="gov2"/>
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Earl Maltbie

<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_20.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 24, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.50
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.50
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 1.29
|area_land_km2            = 1.29
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|unit_pref                = Imperial

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1591

<!-- Population -->
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-2020-Profile"/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 685
|pop_est_footnotes        =
|pop_est_as_of            =
|population_est           =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2   = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 67428
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 620|620]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 20-10475 
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS ID]]
|blank1_info              = 2393735<ref name="GNIS">{{GNIS|2393735}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.cantonks.org/|cantonks.org}}
}}

'''Canton''' is a city in [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson County]], [[Kansas]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 685.<ref name="Census-2020-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile of Canton, Kansas in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2010475 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112132410/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2010475 |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  It is named after [[Canton, Ohio]].<ref name="Canton-History">[http://www.cantonks.org/history-of-canton.htm History of Canton; City of Canton.]</ref>

{{TOC limit|limit=2}}

==History==
[[File:Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 McPherson County.png|thumb|left|1915 Railroad Map of [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson County]]]]

===Early history===
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
For many [[millennia]], the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] was inhabited by [[nomadic]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].  From the 16th century to 18th century, the [[Kingdom of France]] claimed ownership of large parts of [[North America]].  In 1762, after the [[French and Indian War]], France secretly ceded [[New France]] to [[Spain]], per the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]].

===19th century===
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France.  In 1803, most of the land for [[History of Kansas|modern day Kansas]] was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile [[Louisiana Purchase]] for 2.83 [[Penny (United States coin)|cents]] per [[acre]].

From the 1820s to the 1870s, one of the most significant land routes in the United States was the [[Santa Fe Trail]].  It was located southeast of Canton.  Two DAR markers were located on the trail near Canton, one at the Jones Cemetery east of Canton, and another south of Canton.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.santafetrailresearch.com/research/dar-marker-location-ks.html |title=1997 Survey of DAR Markers in Kansas |access-date=April 11, 2013 |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513230246/http://www.santafetrailresearch.com/research/dar-marker-location-ks.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>   The trail was active across [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson County]] from 1821 to 1866.<ref>[http://www.santafetrail.org/chapters/cottonwood/ History of the Cottonwood Crossing Chapter, Santa Fe Trail Association.]</ref>

In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]].  In 1867, [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson County]] was established within the [[Kansas Territory]], which included the land for modern day Canton.

As early as 1875, city leaders of [[Marion, Kansas|Marion]] held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from [[Florence, Kansas|Florence]].  In 1878, [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] and parties from [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion]] and [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson counties]] chartered the [[Marion and McPherson Railway Company]].<ref name="MarionCountyBook">''Marion County Kansas : Past and Present''; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; [[LCCN]] 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.</ref>  In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to [[McPherson, Kansas|McPherson]]; in 1880 it was extended to [[Lyons, Kansas|Lyons]] and in 1881  was extended to [[Ellinwood, Kansas|Ellinwood]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIwpAAAAYAAJ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.]</ref>  The line was leased and operated by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]].  The line from Florence to Marion was abandoned in 1968.<ref name="Abandon Railway 1968">[http://www.abandonedrails.com/Marion_to_Florence Railway Abandonment 1968]</ref>  In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to [[Central Kansas Railway]]. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion through Canton to McPherson was abandoned and removed.  The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, [[Canada, Kansas|Canada]], [[Hillsboro, Kansas|Hillsboro]], [[Lehigh, Kansas|Lehigh]], Canton, [[Galva, Kansas|Galva]], McPherson, [[Conway, Kansas|Conway]], [[Windom, Kansas|Windom]], [[Little River, Kansas|Little River]], [[Mitchell, Kansas|Mitchell]], Lyons, [[Chase, Kansas|Chase]] and Ellinwood.

After the railroad was built through the area in 1879, a village was established that grew to over 300 inhabitants, then  was incorporated as a city in 1880 and named after [[Canton, Ohio]] because an early settler came from Ohio.<ref name="Canton-History"/>

In 1887, the [[Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway]] built a main line from [[Herington, Kansas|Herington]] through Canton to [[Pratt, Kansas|Pratt]].<ref name="Rock Island Rail History">{{Cite web |url=http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm |title=Rock Island Rail History |access-date=2011-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619230000/http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm |archive-date=2011-06-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  In 1888, this line was extended to [[Liberal, Kansas|Liberal]].  Later, it was extended to [[Tucumcari, New Mexico]] and [[El Paso, Texas]].  It foreclosed in 1891 and taken over by [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway]], which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as [[Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad]], merged in 1988 with [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]], merged in 1997 with [[Union Pacific Railroad]].  Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.50|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all  land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-07-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-07-02 }}</ref>

==Area attractions==
* Canton is the site of the [[McPherson County, Kansas|McPherson County]] Fairgrounds.  The McPherson County Fair has been held in Canton since 1948.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=McPherson County Fair Association |title=Our History |url=http://mcphersoncofair.com/}}</ref>
* Six miles north of Canton on 27th Avenue and one half-mile west on Pueblo Rd is the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. In fact, Canton has been identified as the "Gateway to Maxwell Wildlife Refuge."<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Kansas State Library |title=Canton, Kansas |url=http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Canton/index.html |access-date=2008-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612094658/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Canton/index.html |archive-date=2008-06-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This section of land is preserved natural prairie, comprising rolling hills, creeks, springs, and beautiful prairie grasses and wildflowers.  Here 200 head of [[American Bison|bison]] and 50 [[elk]] roam free.  It was established in 1859 by John Gault Maxwell to allow future generations to experience Kansas as it was in the 1800s, prior to settlement.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Maxwell Wildlife Refuge |title=The Maxwell Legacy |url=http://www.cyberkraft.com/maxwell/history.htm |access-date=2008-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724185144/http://www.cyberkraft.com/maxwell/history.htm |archive-date=2008-07-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  This {{convert|2574|acre|km2}} refuge is owned and managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks |title=Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and McPherson State Fishing Lake |url=http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/content/download/1019/4943/file/Brochure%20Maxwell%20&%20McPherson.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=2008-07-31}}</ref>
* Canton has two [[water tower]]s, labeled "HOT" (in red) and "COLD" (in blue).<ref>{{cite web |title=Water tower pics at Flickr |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/7225206@N06/2672298883/}}</ref> The words were painted on as a tourist attraction in 1956 at the suggestion of local real estate agent Mrs. M.D. Fisher.<ref name="wkp4">{{cite news |work=Western Kansas Press |title=Tank Labels Lure Visitors |date=1963-09-27|page=1 }}</ref> In fact, both tanks hold water at an ambient temperature.<ref name="wkp4"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=
|1880= 396
|1890= 420
|1900= 493
|1910= 684
|1920= 700
|1930= 728
|1940= 796
|1950= 771
|1960= 784
|1970= 893
|1980= 926
|1990= 794
|2000= 829
|2010= 748
|2020= 685
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}
===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]] counted 685 people, 283 households, and 185 families in Canton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Canton%20city,%20Kansas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 1,378.3 per square mile (532.2/km{{sup|2}}). There were 316 housing units at an average density of 635.8 per square mile (245.5/km{{sup|2}}).<ref name=:0>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=Canton%20city,%20Kansas%20dp1 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2020/geo/gazetter-file.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Census.gov}}</ref> The racial makeup was 95.04% (651) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]] or [[European American]] (93.58% [[Non-Hispanic White|non-Hispanic white]]), 1.02% (7) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black]] or [[African American|African-American]], 0.44% (3) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]], 0.15% (1) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.0% (0) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]], 0.15% (1) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.21% (22) from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=Canton%20city,%20Kansas%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 2.19% (15) of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=Canton%20city,%20Kansas%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 283 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18; 47.3% were married couples living together; 20.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 29.3% of households consisted of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 2.9.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Canton%20city,%20Kansas%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 12.4% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Canton%20city,%20Kansas%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

24.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 92.9 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $56,875 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,122) and the median family income was $65,268 (+/- $13,079).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1903?q=Canton%20city,%20Kansas%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Males had a median income of $28,643 (+/- $5,612) versus $26,296 (+/- $2,299) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $27,097 (+/- $2,476).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S2001?q=Canton%20city,%20Kansas%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 0.0% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.8% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1701?q=Canton%20city,%20Kansas%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1702?q=Canton%20city,%20Kansas%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-07-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 748 people, 301 households, and 205 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1496.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 336 housing units at an average density of {{convert|672.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 301 households, of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.9% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 37.9 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 829 people, 315 households, and 230 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,669.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 342 housing units at an average density of {{convert|688.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.71% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.24% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]] (two people), 0.12% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.36% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (three people), 0.12% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (1 Native Hawaiian), and 1.45% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.72% of the population.

There were 315 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,808, and the median income for a family was $45,357. Males had a median income of $30,556 versus $20,588 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,428. About 4.2% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
The Canton consists of a mayor and five council members.  The council meets once a month.<ref name="gov1">{{cite web |title=Information about City of Canton |url=https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260591 |website=The League of Kansas Municipalities. |access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref><ref name="gov2">[http://www.cantonks.org/city-council.htm City Council; City of Canton.]</ref>
* City Hall, 100 South Main St.

==Education==
The community is served by [[Canton-Galva USD 419]] public school district.  This school district includes:
* Canton-Galva Elementary School, located in Canton
* Canton-Galva Middle School, located in [[Galva, Kansas|Galva]]
* Canton-Galva High School, located in Canton

Canton and Galva schools unified in 1972 forming Canton-Galva High School with the Eagles mascot. Prior to unification, the Canton High School mascot was Canton Tigers.<ref>"Western Kansas Basketball Results", Great Bend Tribune, 13 December 1967, p.5.</ref>

==Media==
{{See also|List of newspapers in Kansas|List of radio stations in Kansas|List of television stations in Kansas}}

===Print===
* ''[[Hillsboro Free Press]]'', free newspaper for greater [[Marion County, Kansas|Marion County]] area.
* ''[[McPherson Sentinel]]'', regional newspaper from [[McPherson, Kansas|McPherson]].
* ''[[The Salina Journal]]'', regional newspaper from [[Salina, Kansas|Salina]].

==Infrastructure==

===Utilities===
* Internet
** Wireless is provided by Pixius Communications.
** Satellite is provided by [[HughesNet]], [[StarBand]], [[Wildblue|WildBlue]].
* TV
** Satellite is provided by [[DirecTV]], [[Dish Network]].
** Terrestrial is provided by regional [[digital television|digital TV]] stations.
* Electricity
** City is provided by [[Westar Energy]].
* Gas
** Service is provided by [[Kansas Gas Service]].
* Water
** City is provided by City of Canton.
** Rural is provided by Marion County RWD #4.
* Sewer 
** Service is provided by City of Canton.
* Trash
** Service is provided by McPherson Area Solid Waste Utility.

== Popular culture ==
On July 21, 2008, [[Stephen Colbert (character)|Stephen Colbert]] made a comment on ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' about John McCain making a campaign stop in [[Canton, Ohio]], and "not the crappy [[Canton, Georgia|Canton in Georgia]]."<ref name="ajc">{{cite news |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |title=Colbert's 'crappy Canton' comment puzzles mayor |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/stories/2008/07/23/colbert_canton_comment.html |date=2008-07-23 |first=Jamie |last=Gumbrecht}}</ref> The comment resulted in a local uproar, which prompted Stephen to apologize for the story during his July 30, 2008, show, insisting that he was incorrect and that the "real" crappy Canton was Canton, Kansas, after which he made several jokes at the town's expense.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=WXIA-TV |title=Colbert Apologizes To Canton... Sort Of |url=http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=119248&catid=3 |date=2008-07-31 |first=Paul |last=Crawley }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=Kansas City Star |title=Stephen Colbert slams Canton, Kansas |url=http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/728196.html |date=2008-07-31 |quote=In "apologizing" to Canton, Ga., on Wednesday's "The Colbert Report," Stephen Colbert slammed Canton, Kan.}}</ref> Reaction from Mayor Brad Smiley<ref>{{cite news |work=The Salina Journal |title=Colbert stuck on Cantons |url=http://www.salina.com/rdnews/Story/Colbert-appologizes-to-Canton-080608 |first=David |last=Clouston |date=2008-08-06 |access-date=2008-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728190615/http://www.salina.com/rdnews/Story/Colbert-appologizes-to-Canton-080608 |archive-date=2011-07-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and local residents was negative<ref>{{cite news |publisher=KWCH-TV |location=Wichita, Kansas |title=Canton Reacts to Colbert Comments |url=http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=8771050&nav=menu486_2 |first=Megan |last=Stader |date=2008-07-31 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and Kansas governor [[Kathleen Sebelius]] invited Colbert to "spend a night" in Canton's historic jail.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=KWCH-TV |work=Associated Press |title=Colbert's remarks draws Kan. governor's response |url=http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=8769618&nav=menu486_2_7 |date=2008-07-31 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  On August 5, 2008, Colbert apologized to citizens of Canton, Kansas,<ref>{{cite web |work=The Colbert Report |url=http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=178714 |title=Canton, Kansas Apology |date=2008-08-05 |first=Stephen |last=Colbert |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910235832/http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=178714 |archive-date=2008-09-10 }}</ref> then continued the [[running gag]] by directing his mock derision in successive weeks towards [[Canton, South Dakota]]<ref>{{cite news|work=Argus Leader |title=The Colbert Report pokes fun at Canton, S.D. |url=http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080806/FRONTPAGECAROUSEL/80806022&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL |date=2008-08-06 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and [[Canton, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news |publisher=KTIV News Channel 4 |url=http://www.ktiv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8836138 |title=Stephen Colbert apologizes to Canton, S.D. |date=2008-08-13 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On October 28, Colbert turned his attention back to Canton, Ohio after [[Barack Obama]] made a campaign stop there, forcing Colbert to find it "crappy".<ref>{{cite news |title=Canton, Ohio|url=http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/189689/october-28-2008/canton--ohio|date=2008-10-28}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of people from McPherson County, Kansas]]
* [[Santa Fe Trail]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in McPherson County, Kansas]]
** [[Canton Township Carnegie Library]]
** [[Heinrich H. Schroeder Barn]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|McPherson County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about McPherson County, Kansas}}
* ''Canton, Kansas: History of the Canton Community, 1864-1988''; Canton History Book Committee; 1988.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Canton, Kansas}}
* {{Official website|http://www.cantonks.org/|Canton - Official}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260591 Canton - Directory of Public Officials], League of Kansas Municipalities
* [http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/kw/towns.asp?town=Canton&county=McPherson Historic Images of Canton], Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library.
* [https://archive.org/download/usgs_drg_ks_38097_d4/o38097d4.tif Topo Map of Canton / Galva / Roxbury area], USGS

{{McPherson County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Kansas]]
[[Category:Cities in McPherson County, Kansas]]
[[Category:1879 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1879]]